Automatic-feed can-body machine.



W. E. TAYLOR.

AUTOMATIC FEED CAN BODY MAQHINE.

APPLICATION TILED MAR. 24, 1909.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

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AUTOMATIC FEED CAN BODY MACHINE.

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lllllllllJ W. E. TAYLOR.

AUTOMATIC FEED CAN BODY MACHINE.

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AUTOMATIG FEED BAN BODY MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909. L

Patemed Dec. 7, 1909.

7 SHEETS-SEEET 4.

w: E. TAYLOR. AUTOMATIC FEED CAN BODY MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909.

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' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909.

9&2, 1 90. Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

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-W. E. TAYLOR. AUTOMATIC FEED CAN BODY MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909.

Patehted Dec.7,1909.

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lan view UNITED. S MQE P T- OFF-ICE wILiliaM E. TAYLOR, or nas rron'r, MAINE, Assrenon 'ro AMERICAN can COMPANY a or NEW YORK, n. Y.; .A conroim'ripn OENEW JERSEY.

Toall-wiiomit may concern:

Be it knownthat I, lVILLIAM E. TAYLOIQ'EL citizen of the United States, residing in -Eastport, in the county of Washington ans State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic-Feed, Can-Body Machines, of which the following:

, is a specification.

'ing lock side seams at the middle cially designed and intended for production 7 of sardine can bodies, the blanks for which are long-and extremely narrow and flimsy,-

. the Same, beingv y foot or more inlength while'only about an inch in width. My, invention consists in the novel con struction of parts and devices and in the novel; combinations of' parts and devices j liereiiishown and described and by which it giblis adapted to operate accurately and successfully upon the long,-'narrow, flimsy can body blanks employed in making sardine canbodies. I

Inthe accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan 'view of agsardine can body machine em- Fig. 1.

bodying' my invention, a portion of the solderingmechanism'being broken away. Fig.

'2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section on line 33 of Figs. 4, 5, and 6, are detail vertical 1 sections on lines 44, 55 and 6-6 respectively of Fig. 3. Fi 7 is'an enlarged detail longitudinal section of the body blank feed mechanism showing the blank carrier its extreme backward stroke. Fig. 8 is a similar view showing thebody blank carrier at its extreme forward stroke. Fig. 9 is an "enlarged detail elevation-showing the body blank feed mechanism. Fig. l0 is adetail "thecan body blank after it as been 'notched'gby the notchi ng dies. Fig. ll' is a pers ective view. oft-he blank after the 'edge fol s -have been formed there AUTOMATIC-FEED CAN-BODY MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. :Applicationi'filed March 24,

magazine or holder for the blanks,

- chine.

dlFigVI Z a perspective View of the Patented D e. 7, 1909. 1909.. Seria1No.485,362.

lock and lap seam can body produced by the machine. Fig. 13 is a detall vertical cross sectign onlinef'l3 -l3 of 3.

In the drawing, represents the frame of the machine, B the body blank separator, D the push-off finger or body-blank feeder, E. the reciprocating carrier for the body bl anks, furnished with a plurality of fingers or pawls E F the tension shoes, F -the guides, G G the notching dies, H H the edge folders or hook forming devices, I the body former horn, Kthe Wings or formers for forming or wrapping the blank around the body former horn, L the bumper or seam squeezer',

M the soldering horn, N the fluxing device, 0 the soldering pot, P the solder feed device, R R conveyers for moving the 'can bodies along the soldering horn and S the main driving shaft of the machine.

.The frame A'of the machine may be of anyv suitable kind or construction adapted to give support to the other parts of the ma- The stipiirator B is arranged under the C and is ecured to the .frame by suitable plates or screws 1). It has an inclined upper face upon which the lowermost blank 00 of the stack or pile X-rests in an inclined and separated and slightly advanced position from the other blanks in the stack or pile of blanks X, adapting it to be engaged with certainty and regularity by the fingers or pawls E of the carrier E. The separator B also has a. narrow ledge ,or shoulder b upon which the rear edge of the stack or pile of blanks X rests, the front edge of the stack or pile resting upon the inclined separator face 6 of the separator B. Theseparator B is'provided with a top or upper portion 7B which may preferably also form the rear guide or-wallof the blank holder or magazine- C. And a slot or openingb is left between the lower end or edge bf of this top or upper portion B of the separator and the inclined face I) of,the se arator sufiicient to permit the lowermost blan of the pile to be fed or. pushed slightly forward by the push-ofl finger orfeeder D- sufficiently to disengage it fromthe ledge or shoulder b upon which the rear edge of the pile of blanks rests, and thus permit the lowermost blank'to rest. on the inclinedface of the of any i u'table kind or Construction, and its front gui -es or walls C may extend at their lower ends down "to the upper face of the separator B.

The push-off finger or feeder 'D is preferably reciprocated asrequired to push the lowermost blank of the pile off the narrow ledge 'or shoulder b of the separator B by.

connecting it directly to the carrier E byv screw bolts d. Aplurality of the feeders or fingers D are preferably employed, each secured to one of the bars of the carrier E, and each having a curved or runway sha ed front end to adapt it to ride or pass readily under the stack or pile of blanks X in the holder C, and each also rovided with a blank engaging device or slioulder d, preferably of hardened steel, and secured to. the feeder I) by a screw (Z The blank engaging device or shoulder 41 projects above the upper face of the feeder or push-ofi finger D )llSt the thickness of one blank :12 so that only the lowermost blank of the stack or pile can be engaged by the push-off finger or feeder D.

The blank carrier E may be of any suit able construction, but it preferably consists of a pluralit of reci )rocatin bars, each furnished wit a plurality of pivoted pawls or fingers E each having a light spring It" for holding it in its normal position while )ermitting it to readily ride under the lanks. The several pawls E von each feeder bar advance or carry the blanks for ward step by step from one station to an other to enable each blank to receive successively the required notching, edging and body forming operations. The carrier E is preferably reciproeated as required by means of a cam or eccentric S on the main cam shaft S through suitable connecting devices as link E", lever E and links E E.

The tension shoes or devices F are arranged above the bars of the carrier E and operate to hold the body blanks straight and flat against the upper face of the carrier bars, and thus insure the blanks being prop erly presented to and in accurate registry 'with the notching dies, edging devices or same are furnished with springs f to ress' them yieldingly down against the ody blanks, and they are preferabl so supported .from stationary, arms F throu h connectin bolts F The guides F for t e body blan s also aid in insurin the blanks being presented by the carrier in pro er registry with the notchin dies, edge f0 ders, body former horn an body formers.

The notching dies G G serve to notch and clip off the ,corners of the bod blanks so that the hooks or edge folds wi l v not be formed upon.the extreme end portions thereof, but'o'nl'y' upon the middle portion, and thus cause the can body to be produced from such blank to have a lock 'side seam at the middle portion of the seam and a lap side seam at the two end portions of such seam. These notching dies preferably comprise stationary members G secured to the frame of the machine, and movable or reciprocatin dies (it carried by a vertically movable sli eor cross head G which is preferably operated from a cam Gr on the shaft S-through suitable 'connectin mechanism as'levebG and link G". '1 e cross head Gr reciprocates in suitable guides G on the frame ofthe machine.

The edge folders or hook forming de= vices H TI may be of any suitable kind or construction customarily employed in can body making machines, but preferably consist of two airs of dies, one pair for each extremit o the body blank w, the upper die ll 0 each pair being secured to the stationary frame of the-machine, and the two lower dies H H being carried by a movable eross head or slide H which is prefer ably operated by a'crank arm S on shaft S- through the connecting pitman H The hook forming or edge folding dies H H. for each end of the blank are alike, but op ositely turned, so that one pair of these (fies forms an upturned hook or edge fold m on one end of the blank, while the other pair of dies forms a downturned hook or edge fold w on the opposite end of the blank; so that when the blank w is wrapped around the body" former, horn I by the wings or formers K, the hooks m :11 will interengage and thus cause the bumper or seam squeeze!- L to form the customary lock seam at the middle portion of the blank. At the ends or corners of the blank where the notching dies G G produce the notches m w in the blank, theside seam of the formed can body is of the ordinary lap seam type. This adapts the body to be suitably flanged and to have the top and bottom heads of the sardine can secured to the body by an interfolded or double scam.

The body former horn I may be of any suitable or well known construction eustomarily employed in can body making machines. lt is movably mountet on the frame ofl the machine by a'suitable'arm I and is moved "up and down slightl-yby a cam I to clamp t'he blank against the stationary block l ll'; It i'sbf rectangular shape with roundedof the cus-' Y corners t6 groducethecan body ,tomarysar ine' ean sha e. The wingsorbody oriners K which opcrate-to wrap" orflfold or form the can body blanwdownwa-rd around the horn I are 16 shapedFtoxconforln* tl ereto,- and a-re each "sprin'g Ktinterposedtogive a yielding con- ---'nection between said rod K and the strap v i and thus enable the wing K which is opbferated by said. rod K to 'close-slightly 1n adyan'ceof the other Wing K and thus cause 1-hookior edge foldw to lap under-the end 1 56f the blank having theinturned hook or ;:2 edged-'foldgwt turnbuckleK is interipos'ed between the connectingrod' K and strap-K? for purposes of adjustment, and

'- the rddIK has 'athreaded end and adjustg nuts K for av'similar purpose.

Thebumper or seam squeezer L is preferably: adju'sta-bly secured to a reciprocatin crossqhead, preferably the same cross hea 'H? which operates the lower or movable hook forming or edge folding dies H The soldering horii M over and around 'whichthe. can bodies pass after leaving the body formeri-horn I is attached at its inner end to the body former horn I by a connecting bracket or angle plate m. It. preferably consists of a flurality of rails or bars m m .m m secured to a plurality of cross shaped =spiders-m the spiders being preferably in separate pieces from the rails. The upper soldering horn rail on has a channel in its upper face to accommodatethe pusherarmsor ifingers 1' of the upper conveyer R i which moves thecan bodies along the soldering horn in' conjunction with the two lower c'onveyers R The two side rails m m are preferably plain narrow-flat bars fitting inside the can bodies and engaging its two parallel. upright sides and servingin connection with the other-bars m and m or m to maintain the "narrow flimsy sardine can bodies in proper shape as they are conveyed [.along the soldering horn. The two lower rails or bars m? which engagethe can bodies over the molten soldering receptacle or "pot O, one on each side ofthe side seam of the can body are preferably composed of angle barssecured to the spiders parallel to each other and a slfort;. distane e apart so as mum come in contact with the seam or'with the-,molten solder xthatl maylqbe sweated through the seams Thesoldering hornrail' the o'nnecting strap K and connecting rods tact with the side seam of the can body, .K*,;-;the;, connecting rod- K having a both the lock and the lap seam portion'thereof, as the can body is moved along the so]- I the end of the blank bearing the outturnedf matically fed to the fluxing device N or its ;come in contact with the side seam of the or harm at the lower ed e of the horn'at the part thereof over the ii uxing device and which bears directly against the seam to hold it properly in contact with the-fluxing device preferably consists of a plain 'rectan- 7o gular bar. At its outer end, the soldering horn M is supported upon a revolving roller M i i -The fiuxing device'Npreferably. consists dering horn over the fluxing or aoiding device. The yielding character of the ab sorbent'pad N enables it to properly engage both the'thinner or lap seam portion of tlie seam and athe thicker or look seam portion thereof.- I 3 a The acid or fluxin liquid form'is autoreceptacle N from a flux receptacle N on the frame of the machine through a. connecting pipe N having a valve Nt'for regulating the fiow. The molten soldeurecep- .tacle or; p t O is furnished with a gas burner or other heating device 0 for melting and keeping molten the solder, and with a leg 0 having a slotted or curved top plate 0 through which a narrow film of solder may can body as the can body moves over this slotted top plate of the-molten solder receptacle. The molten solder in the solder receptacle O is maintained at aislightly higher level as indicated at 0 than .the orifice or slot of the top plate 0 of the soldering-pot leg 0 so that the hydrostatic action of the liquid will tend to maintain a slightfilm of solder in the slit or slot of the topplate O" as the solder is licked up by the seams of the cans passing over this slotted topflplate. To maintain the moltensolderinthe pot O accurately and constantly at the required level, the solder is automatically vfed in the form of wire solder Y to the soldering pot through suitable wire solder feed rolls O. the shaft 0 of one of which is furnished with a ratchet engaged by a pawl 0- on the lever 0 which is actuated by a cam S on the cam shaft S through a suitable connecting. link 0 and lever O -havinga roller 0 at its end to engage the cam. "The conveyers R R R for movingrthe can bodies 00" along the solderinghorn M are preferably three in number, and each 'COHSIStS of an endless flexible chain furnished with fingers or arms adapted to enother two below it, and to one side of its longitudinal center so that each can body Wll be simultaneously engaged. by the pusher fingers or;arms of all three chains,-

the pusher fingers or arms of the two lower chains engagin the two lowermost corners of the can oc y and the pusher finger of the upper chain engagin the upper edge of the can body'at its mic dle part. By this means the s lort or narrow and flimsy sardine can bodies are uniformly and properly moved along the soldering born without any tendency to tilt or bind or get askew and be crushed or injured and the machine clogged, or to produce imperfectly soldered seams by reason of unproper or inaccurate engagement of the side seam with the solderin and fluxingdevices. Each of the conveyerc rains R R? arefurnished with pusher arms or fingers 1', those of the upper chain ll riding in the channel m of the upper soldering horn railor bar m", said rail thusserving also as; a guide for the lower or operating member or loop of the upper conveyer chain R. The upper conveyor chain R is mounted upon and actuated by pulleys or sprocket wheels RE lt one-of which is furnished with a s )rocket ear 4- for en a ement with the upright driving chain 1 which travels on sprocket wheels 1", the latter being on the shaft. 1'. The shaft R of the sprocket wheel R" is journaled ina movable bearing R which is furnished with a spring R to keep the ct'mveyer it under proper tension.

' The two lower convcyer chains R ,are each mounted on pulleys or sprocket wheels lt H, the latter being on shaft r" which is furnished with. a beveled gear :1 that meshe with a beveled gear Won theshaftr" which carries a sprocket wheel '1'" and driven by a sprocket c-baiu r" from the sprocket gear S on the main driving shaft S; so thatiall three of the endless liexible conveyer chains It It lt' are simultanmnsly operated and in unison. thus causing the can body pusher ar\us or lingers r on all three of the chains to siumltaueouslv engage each of the can bodies. The shaft ll of the sprocket wheels lt is journaled in a movable bearing It provided with sirings R" for keeping the conveyers Rt um er pro )er tension.

S is the driving pnl ey aud"l the clutch for connecting and. disconnwtiug the driving pulley with the driving shaft, the clutch being operated by a clutch lever or treadlc 'l" through the intermediate lever 'l"-.

I claim I. In a can body machine, the combination with a magazine for body blanks, of a body blank separator having an upper inclined face and a narrmeledge, a recin'ocating body blank feeder for pushing t e lowermost blank oll' said ledge, a reciprocating carrier for the body blanks furnished with a plurality of pusher fingers, tension shoes for most blank off said ledge,

.of the pile of blanks in the holding the blanks straight upon the carrier, notchin dies, hook forming devices, a bod former orn, wings for forming the blank around said horn, a bumper for squeezing the hooks into a lock seam at the middle portion of the can body, a soldering horn, in

fiuxing device, a molten solder rece tacle having a leg with a slotted top plate low the level of the molten solder in said receptacle, a solder feed device and a plurality of conveyers furnished with pusher-arms, the pusher arms of all the conveyors simultaneously engaging each can body at its middle portion above the horn and at thecorners below the horn, substantially as specified.

'2. In a can body machine,t-he combination with a holder for the body blanks, of a se arator having an a )per inclined face an a narrow ledge, a feeder for pushing the lowermost blank off said ledge, and a carrier for the body blanks to which they are delivered one b one by said feeder, substantially as speci ed.

3. In a can body machine, the combination with a holder for the body blanks, pf a se arator having an 11 )per inclined face an a narrow ledge, a fee( or for pushingthe lowerand a carrier for the body blanks to which they aredelivered one by one by said feeder, said feeder comprislng a )lurality of fingers each havin a tapering rout end to adapt it to pass an or the pile of blanks in the holder, substantially as specified.

4. In a can body machine, the combination with a holder for the body blanks, 0g se arator having an a )per inclined fa an a narrow ledge, a feeder for pushing the lowermost blank .otl' said ledge, and a carrier for the body blanks to which they are delivered one by one by said feeder, said feeder comprising a plurality of fingers each havin a tapering front end to adapt it to pass an er the pile of blanks in the holder, with a blank engaging device adapted to en a the lowermost blank only of the pile of by anks in the holder, substantially as specified.

5. In a can body lllflClllll0,.tll0 combination with a holder for the body blanks, of a se a-- rator having an it )per' inclined face an a narrow ledge, a feeder for pushing the lowermost. blank off said ledge, and a carrier for the body blanks towhieh they are delivered one by one by said feeder, said feeder comprising a plurality of fingers each furnished with a blank eugfagin device or shoulder adapted to engage the lbwermost blank only holder, substantially as specified.

(t. In a can body machine, the combination with a holder for the body blanks, of a se arator having an n per inclined face an a a feet er for pushing the lowerone by one by said feeder, said separator having an upper portion provided with a passage between its lower edge and said inclined face for the lowermost blank of the pile of blanks in the holder to pass through, substantially as specified.

7. In a can body machine, the combination with a holder for the body blanks, of a separator having an up J61 inclined face and a narrow ledge, a feeder for pushing the lowermost blank off said ledge, and a carrier for the body blanks to which they are delivered one by one by said feeder, said separator having an upper portion provided with a passage between its lower edge and said inclined face for the lowermost blank of the pile of blanks in the holder to pass through, and said separator being also provided with a tension device under which the. lowermost blank passes as it is moved forward by the feed and carrier, substantially as specified.

8. The combination with a blank holder, of a separator having an up )01' inclined face, a narrow shoulder upon which the pile of blanks rest, and a reci rocating feeder for pushing the lowermost blank of the pile otl' said shoulder onto said inclined face, substantially as specified.

t). The cmnbination with a blank holder, of a sciarator having an upper inclined face amf a narrow shoulder upon which the pile of blanks rest, a reciprocating feeder for pushing the lowermost blank of the pile off said shoulder onto said inclined face and a carrier havin fingers adapted to engage the lowermost li lank when resting in an inclined )osition on said inclined face, substantially as specified.

it). The combination with a blank holder. of u. so )arator having an upper inclined face and a narrow shoulder upon which the pile of blanks rest, a reci )IOCHtiH" feeder for pushing the lowermost )lank of the pile off said shoulder onto said inclined face, a carrier having fin ers adapted to engage the lowermost blan when resting in an inclined position on said inclined face, edge folders, a body former horn, wings for forming the blank around the horn and a bumper, substantially as specified.

11. The combination with a blank holder, of a so arator having an upper inclined face 111K a narrow shoulder upon which the pile of blanks rest, a reciirocating feeder for pushing the lowermost lilank of the pile off said shoulder onto said inclined face, a carrier having fingers adapted to engage the kiwormost blank when resting in an inclined position on said inclined face, edge folders, a body former horn, wings for forming the blank around the horn and a bumper, a soldering horn attached to said body former born at its inner end. a fluxing device, a. soldering device, and means for moving the can bodies along the soldering horn, substantially as specified.

12. In a can body machine, the combination with body forming mechanism, of a body blank holder. a se arator having an inclined face below sai holder, and pro vided with shoulders for supporting the rear edge of the pile of blanks in the holder, and a reciprocating feeder adapted to engage the lowermost blank of the pile. and push it off said shoulders so that it will rest in an inclined position on said inclined face of the separator, substantially as specified.

13. In a can body machine, the combination with a body former horn and means for forming the can body around the horn, of a soldering horn connected to said body former horn at its inner end having a channeled upper rail, side rails and lower rails spaced apart, a fiuxing device and a soldering device and ayplurality of endless flexible conveyors, each .urnished with pusher fingers for moving the can bodies alon said soldering born, the fingers of one o said conveyors traveling in the channel of said upper rail of the soldering horn, and the fingers of the other two conveyors en a ing the lowermost corners of the can bodies, substantially as specified.

1 t. In a can body machine, the combination with a body former horn and means for forming the can body around the horn, of a soldering horn connected to said body former born at its inner end barring a channeled upper rail, side rails and lower rails spaced apart, a fluxing device and a soldering device and a plurality of endless flexible convoyers, each furnished with pusher fingers for moving the can bodies along said soldcring born, the fingers of one of said conveyors traveling in the channel of said upper rail of the soldering horn, and the fingers of the other two conveyors enmwing the lowermost corners of the can lioties, said soldering horn having a single lower rail m at the portion thereof above which cooperates with said fluxing device, substantially as specified.

15. In a can body machine, the combination with a body former horn, of a solder'n. horn having an upper channeled rail and a pair of lower rails spaced apart, an endless flexible conveyor having pusher arms traveling in said channeled upper rail, and apair of endless flexible conveyors having msher arms adjacent the lower rails of the iorn, substantially as specified.

16. In a can body machine, the combination with a body former horn, of a soldering horn having an upper channeled rail and a pair of lower rails spaced apart, an endess flexible conveyor having pusher arms traveling in said channeled upper rail, and a pair of endless flexible. convcyers having pusher arms adjacent the lower rails of the members of horn, and guides for the upper substansaid lower conveyors to travel in, tially as specified.

17. In a can body machine, the combination with a body former horn, of a solderin horn connected to said body formerhorn and around which the can bodies pass therefrom, a molten solder receptacle having a leg furnished with a slotted top plate to receive a narrow film of solder for application to the seam of the can body as it is moved over the same, said soldering horn bearing against the inner surface of the can bodies on each side of the seams thereof to hold and maintain the scam in cooperative relation with said narrow film of solder substantially as specified.

18. In a can body machine, the combination with a bed former horn, of a soldering horn connectet to said body former horn and around which the can bodies pass therefrom, a molten solder receptacle having a leg furnished with a slotted top plate to receive a narrow film of solder for application to the seam of the can body as it is moved over the same, and means for maintaining the molten solder in said rece )tacle at a level slightly above said slotted top plate to maintain a film of solder in the slot thereof, said soldering horn bearing against the inner surface of the can bodies on each side of the seams thereof to hold and maintain the scam in cooperative relation with said narrow film of solder substantially as specified.

19. In a can body machine, the combination with a bod former horn, of a soldering horn connectec to said body former horn and around which the can bodies pass therefrom, a molten solder receptacle having a leg furnished with a slotted top plate to receive a narrow film of solder for application to the seam of the can body as it is moved over the same, and a wire solder feed device for automatically maintaining the molten solder at the operating level in said solder receptacle, said soldering horn bearing against the inner surface of the can bodies on each side of the seams thereof to hold and maintain the scam in cooperative relation with said narrow film of solder substantially as specified.

20. In a can body machine, the combination with a body former horn, of a solderin horn connected to said body former horn ant around which the can bodies pass therefrom, a molten solder receptacle having a leg fur nished with a slotted top plate to receive a narrow film of solder for application to the seam of the can body as it is moved over the same, and means for moving the can bodies along said horn, said soldering horn bearing against the inner surface of the can bodies on each side of the seams thereof to hold and maintain the scam in cooperative relation with said narrow film of solder substantially as specified.

21. In a can body machine, the combination with a body former horn, of a soldering horn connected to said body former horn and around which the can bodies pass therefrom, a molten solder receptacle having a leg furnished with a slotted top plate to recelve a narrow film of solder for application to the seam of the can body as it is moved over the same, means for maintaining the molten solder in said receptacle at a level slightly above said slotted top plate to maintain the film of solder in the slot thereof. and means for niovin the can bodies along said horn, said sol ering horn bearing against the inner surface of the can bodies on each side of the seams thereof to hold and maintain the seam in cooperative relation with said narrow film of solder, substantially as specified.

22. In a can body machine, the combination with a body former horn, of a soldering horn connected to said body former horn and around which the can bodies pass therefrom, a molten solder receptacle having a leg furnished with a slotted top plate to receive a narrow film of solder for application to the seam of the can body as it is moved over the same, a wire solder feed de vice for automatically maintaining the molten solder at the ooerating level in said solder receptacle, tLlK means for moving the can bodies along said horn, said soldering horn bearing against the inner surface of the can bodies on each side of the seams thereof to hold and maintain the seam in cooperative relation with said narrow fihn of solder, substantially as specified.

23. The combination with a soldering horn around which the can bodies pass, and means for moving the can bodies along the same, of a molten solder receptacle rovided with a slotted to) plate extenting arallel to and below sair horn, and means or forcing the molten solder through the slot of the top plate in a narrow film for en gagement with the seams of the can bodies as they are moved along the horn in contact with said slotted top plate, said soldering horn bearinagainst the inner surface of the can bodies on each side of the seams thereof to hold and maintain the scam in cooperative relation with said narrow film of solder, substantially as specified.

24. In a can body machine, the combination with a body former horn, of a solde'inu' horn connected at one end to thebody former horn, a rotating roller supporting the outer end of said soldering horn, means for mov ing the can bodies along the soldering born. a solder receptacle having a top plate furnished with a narrow slot )arallel to and bclow said born to receive a ilm of solder, said top plate engaging the side mm of the can bodies-as they are-moved along the horn, substantially as specified.

25. In a can body machine, the combination with a body former horn, of a soldering horn connected at one end to the body former born, a rotatin roller supporting the outer end of said soldering horn, means for moving the can bodies along the soldering horn, a solder receptacle having a top plate furnishet'l with a narrow slot. parallel to and below said born to receive a film of solder, said top plate engaging the side seam of the can bodies as they are moved along the horn, wire solder feed rolls and means for automatically operating said feed rolls to maintain the molten solder at a fixed level in said solder receptacle, substantially as specified.

26. The combination with a soldering horn having rails spaced apart for engagement with the can bodies, of a plurality of endless flexible conveyors havin pusher arms simultaneously engaging eat- 1 can body at. three or more points on different sides of the horn, substantially as specified.

27. The combination with a soldering horn having rails spaced apart for engagement with the can bodies, of a plurality of endless flexible con'.'eyers having pusher arms simultaneously engaging each can body at two or more points on different. sides of the horn, substantially as specified.

'28. In a. can body machine, the combination with a soldering hot nhavinga )lurality of rails spaced apart, the upper rail having a channel, an upper conveyor having pusher arms traveling in said channel of said upper rail, and a pair of lower conveyerskhaving pusher arms enga ing the can bodies below and at. each side of the horn, substantially as specified.

Qt). In a can body machine, the combination with a carrier for the can bod blanks, consisting of a plurality of parallel ars furnished with a plurality of fingers, a magazine for the blanks, a blank separator having an inclined up )6! face a ainst which the front corner of the pile of blanks in the magazine rests, and a narrow shoulder against: which the rear edge of the pile of h anks rests, and a plurality of reciprocating feeder bars fm'nished with shoulders for engaging the lowermost blank of the pile and pushing it oil said shoulder of the separator mto position to be engaged by the fingers of the carrier, substantially as specified.

30. In a can body machine, the combination with a carrier for the can body blanks, consisting of a. plurality of parallel bars furnished with a plurality of lingers, a magazine for the blanks, a blank separator having an inclined up )er face against which the front. corner of the pile of blanks in the magazine rests, and a narrow shoulder against which the rear edge of the pile of blanks rests, a'tda plurality of reciprocating feederbars furnished with shoulders for engaging the lowermost blank of the pile. and pushing it off said shoulder of the sepa 'ator into position to be engaged by the fingers of the carrier, said separator having an upper portion )lOVldCd with a narrow space or opening between its lower edge and the upper inc ined face of said separator, substantially as specified.

31. In a can body machine, the combination with a carrier for the can body blanks, consisting of a plurality of parallel bars furnished with apluralit of fingers, a magazine for the blanks, a blank separator, having an inclined upper face against which the front corner of the pile of blanks in the magazine rests, and a narrow shoulder a ainst which the. rear edge of the pile of blanks rests, and a plurality of reciprocating feeder bars furnished with shoulders for engaging the lowermost blank of the pile. and melting it off said shoulder of the separator mto position to be engaged by the. lingers of the carrier, said separator having an upper portion rovidod with a narrow space or openm etween its lower edge and the upper inc ined face of said separator, the. upper portion of said separator having a tension device under which the blank passes as ,it is moved forward by said carrier, substantially as specified.

32. Ian can body nutchine, the combination with a carrier for the can body blanks, consisting of a plurality of parallel bars furnished with a pluralit. of lingers, a magazine for the blanks, a b ank separator having an inclined up er face against which the front corner 0 the pile of blanks in the magazine rests, and a narrow shoulder a must which the rear edge of the pile of b anks rests, and a plurality of reciprocating feeder bars furnished with shoulders for engaging the lowermost blank of the pile and ushing it off said shoulder of the separator mto position to be engaged by the fingers of the carrier, said separator having an upper portion provided with a narrow space or openin r 'ctween its lower edge and the upper inc ined face of said separator, and tension bars above said carrier bars under which the blanks pass as the are moved forward by the carrier bars, substantially as specified.

33. In a can body machine, the combination with a carrier for the can body blanks, consisting of a plurality of parallel bars furnished with a plurality of fingers, a magazine for the blanks, a blank separator having an inclined up )er face against which the front corner of the pile of blanks in the magazine rests, and a narrow shoulder a amst which the rear edge of the pile of b anks rests, and a plurality of reciprocating feeder bars furnished with shoulders for engaging the lowermost blank of the pile and pushing it off said shoulder of the separator into position to be engaged by the fingers of the carrier, said separator having an upper portion provided with a narrow space or opening between its lower edge and the upper inclined face of said separator, and tension bars above said carrier bars under which the blanks pass as they are moved forward by the carrier bars, said tension bars having inclined ends to facilitate the entrance of the blanks beneath the same, substantially as specified.

34. In a can body machine, the combination with a holder for body blanks, of a body blank feeder, a carrier for the body blanks to which they are delivered one by one by said i'eeder, notehing dies, hook forming devices, a bodv former horn,-win s for wrapping the blank around said T101311 and a mm per for squeezing the hooks into a look seam at. the middle portion of the can body, substantially as specilied.

35. In a can body machine, the combination with a holder for body blanks, of a body blank feeder, a carrier for the body blanks to which they are delivered one by one by said feeder, notching dies, hook forming devices, a body former horn, wings for wrapping the blank around said horn, a. bumper for squeeaing the books into a lock seam at the middle portion of the can body, a soldering horn, a lluxing device, a soldering device and means for moving the can bodies along the soldering horn, substantially as specified.

36. In a can body machine, the combination with a carrier for the body blanks, of notehing dies, hook forming devices, a bod former horn, wings for wrapping the blank around aid horn, a bumper for squeezing the hooks into a lock seam at the middle portion of the can body, substantially as specitied.

37. In a can body machine, the combination with a carrier for the body blanks, of notching dies, hook forming devices, a body former horn, wings for wrapping the blan around said horn, a bumper for squeezing the hooks into a lock seam at the middle portion of the can body, a soldering horn, a tluxing device, a soldering device and means for moving the can bodies along the soldering horn, substantially as specified.

38. In a can body machine, the combination with a carrier for the body blanks, of notchin r dies, hook forming devices, a body former iorn, wings for wrapping the blank around said horn, a bumper for squeezing the hooks into a lock seam at the middle portion of the can body, a soldering horn, a fiuxing device, a soldering device and a plurality of conveyors having fingers engaging each can body at a )lurality of different points on dilferent sides of the soldering born for moving the can bodies along the soldering horn, substantially as specified.

39. The combination with a soldering horn, of a solder applyin device, an upper endless flexible conveyor raving fingers eugaging the can bodies at the a, ver )ortions thereof and two lower endless ilexi le conveyors having fin ers sin'iultaneously engaging each can bo at the lower portions thereof, substantia ly as specified.

WILLIAM E. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

JOHN SULLIVAN, L. 1'I. Nnwoomn. 

